FINE ART

From my Pop Up Theology Series, This Piece Is Based On The Bible Passage Matthew 7:1-5 And A Sermon By Rev. Tim Keller.

I Selected This Passage Because I Like The Hyperbole Of The Message Of The Log As Well As Tim Keller’s Description Of The Bible’s True Meaning And Methods Of Judgment.

Matthew 7:1-5 says: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Painting Symbology: In the center of the painting you will see an blue and orange eye with a yellow speck and just behind it a large dark orange log going through it. The apple reflects sin as a reminder to think before you judge and that you are not without sin yourself. The stripes in the apple are also symbolic of “the log.” What we understand of the use of the word judgment today is not the same as was meant in biblical terms. Judging in biblical terms is meant to be more of an evaluation. What the Bible says you should not do is judge harshly by pointing fingers, saying things meant to hurt someone or judging someone by casting him out. The symbols of the pointing finger, the magenta tears behind the finger and the blue and yellow stars reflect this hurtful type of judgment and a casting out as if into space. What the Bible suggests is not that you should not judge people, but rather you should evaluate them and help them out of love and deliver your message as kindly as possible, as if delivering it on a bed of clouds. The thumbs up and thumbs down reflect this thought of evaluation; the hearts and the swirls represent the soft kindness and love you should use in delivering your message. The fist on the right and the purple chain link pattern in the thumbs up on the left reflect the strength it often takes to deliver a message of “evaluation” that is meant out of love but that someone might not want to hear. Lastly, the numerous “specks” in the fist as well as the pink and orange specks in the top center are another reminder that we are not without sin and that God, represented by the blue “Jesus Fish” style symbol which is also part of the eye, should remain central to our thoughts and minds kind of like a WWJD? (What would Jesus Do?) reminder that we should consider before rushing to judgment of others.